Finish Carpentry

Carpentry, From Rough to Finish

The term Carpentry defines a building trade concerned with the constructing, assembling, and repairing of wooden structures. One who is often called upon to carry out this job is the carpenter. He cut, fit, remove, and join wood, light metals, and fabricated materials; he is knowledgeable with fasteners, nails, screws, glues, and the wood suited for projects.

Building or remodeling a structure involves several stages. And, at each stage, different specialists are hired to make sure the work is done properly.

This pocess protects the structural integrity of the building, and ensures that quality-control standards are maintained.

There may be different levels of carpentry, but the two primary types chosen especially when it comes to your remodeling project are rough and finish.

What is rough carpentry?

Rough carpentry involves framing of a building, including basic things as the walls, floor, and roof. The rough carpenter, also called a “framer,” should be well-versed in building codes and construction to design and meet basic engineering principles and strength standards when performing a remodeling job.

What is finish carpentry?

Finish carpentry, on the other hand entails such activities as putting the trim and casing around joints and openings, hanging doors, attaching hardware, and building in shelves and closets. Finish carpenters basically add all the final touches that make a house a home. They work on homes after a house is fully built, insulated, wired and has a complete plumbing system. For this reason, finishing carpenters can perform most of their work before or after the homeowner moves into a home.

What is finishing carpentry good for?

Almost any visible wood in a home was a job for a carpenter. Finishing carpentry projects can include basic, functional items such as hardwood flooring or stairs. Most of the skilled and specific finish carpentry work, however, is aesthetic. Finish carpenters typically cut, install and add design flourishes to window and door trim. They also usually install and dress up baseboards at the floor and crown molding at the ceiling. Wainscoting and wall paneling are also jobs for finish carpenters. More complex projects include built-in bookshelves, intricate fireplace surrounds and closets.

A finish carpenter works on trims, molding and windows. They may even install roofing, and provide the finishing touches to roofs such as gutters and the trim.

Trim Carpentry: a finishing carpenter with a specialty

Trim carpentry is a special form of finish carpentry that focuses on trim work. A trim carpenter installs finish woods, and the surrounding trim work with expert patience and precision. Trim carpenters install finish woods, doors, windows, stairs, and all other trim work— providing a “finished” and polished look to these items.

A builder or general contractor may hire a finish carpenter for any of these projects. A homeowner can also work with finish carpenters on finishing a new home or remodeling and existing house. Finish carpenters earn more than the average carpenter. Buildings will always need to be built or remodeled, and the hands-on work cannot be outsourced.